Month: January 2017

When it comes to the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) a year has made all the difference in the world. Last year at this time, we were all celebrating a remarkable baby boom, with 8 new orca calves over the previous 12 months & another new baby was added in January 2016, for a total of 9.

However, if 2015 was considered the baby boom year, then 2016 was the exact opposite with a total of 6 orca deaths recorded during the calendar year. Then the announcement on January 2, 2017 of J2 Granny’s presumed death as of December 31, 2016. J2 Granny was last seen by the Center for Whale Research on October 12, 2016.

J2 Granny

In 2016 we saw the loss of L95, J55, J14, J28, J54, & J34

L95 Nigel

J14 Samish – left with daughters J37 & J40

J28 Polaris and then her baby son J54 Dipper.

J34 Doublestuf with mom J22

“The SRKW population is now estimated to be 78 as of 31 December 2016, and J pod contains only 24 individuals plus the wandering L87. To whom will he attach now? Who will lead the pod into the future? Is there a future without food? What will the human leaders do?” Ken Balcomb – Center for Whale Research

We are now racing the extinction of the SRKW’s – What it is going to take…

Heightened awareness and continued education

Sustainable fisheries and healthy wild Pacific Salmon stocks

Continued research into understanding where the whales go in the winter & what they do

Improved technologies for boating

Continued education for younger generations-the next group of Salish Sea ambassadors!!